The Smithsonian Institution performs diverse research and educational activities designed to increase and diffuse knowledge.

Conservation and Research Center - A Directorate of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, is one of the world’s leading centers for conservation research and training. Serves as the hub for a broad array of regional, national, and international Smithsonian conservation programs. Its research focuses on migratory birds, Appalachian ecosystems, endangered species, and spatial analysis.

Electronic Biologia Centrali-Americana -This partnership's objective is to strengthen the international museum community’s computer-based management of large-scale data on the biodiversity of Central America , by computerizing comprehensive century-old data on flora and fauna contained in the Biologia Centrali-Americana (BCA).

Environmental Research Center - The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) leads the Nation in research on linkages of land and water ecosystems in the coastal zone, and provides society with knowledge to meet critical environmental challenges in the 21st century.

Tropical Research Institute, Panama (STRI) - One of the world’s leading centers for basic research on the ecology, behavior, and evolution of tropical organisms. Scientists from around the world come to STRI to join the search for knowledge in fields that include animal behavior, plant ecology, canopy biology, paleoecology, archaeology, evolution, genetics, marine ecology, anthropology, and conservation science.

• Mpala Research Center - A unique collaboration of five leading Kenyan and U.S. institutions. At Mpala, researchers from many nations cooperate to advance understanding of sustainable development for East Africa ’s savanna and semi-arid woodland habitats. Trains scientists in ecology, evolution, conservation biology, natural resource management, and related disciplines. Open to scientists from all regions of the world.

Wildlife Conservation and Management Training Program (WCMTP) - The objective of WCMTP is to help developing countries build their own capacity to meet conservation challenges through personnel training, research and environmental education. To achieve this objective, WCMTP has conducted 115 conservation-oriented courses and workshops in more than 15 countries.

Migratory Bird Center - Dedicated to fostering greater understanding, appreciation, and protection of bird migration.

National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Research Programs - NMNH is a leading institution in biology and environmental research. Some of its research focuses on the loss of biodiversity, and invasive plant and insect species that threaten our agricultural and natural resources. 12 (for all below)

Biological Diversity Programs -

• Biological Diversity of the Guianas Shield (BDG) - The goal of the BDG is to study, document and preserve the biological diversity of the Guianas.
• Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments (BDFF) - BDFF Project is a collaborative research effort between Brazil 's National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) and the Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian. The BDFFP is the only experimental study of the process of habitat fragmentation under way in the Amazon basin.
• Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories (BSI) - BSI provides intramural support for field-based research into the composition of biological communities and the evolutionary relationships of plant and animal groups.
• Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems - Research focuses on Oceanography and Historical Development of Communities; Biodiversity, Morphology and Evolution; Processes, Linking Species and Environment; Population Dynamics, Recruitment, and Production; and Species Interactions, Food Chains, and Nutrient Cycling.
• Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program (MAB) - MAB works internationally with governments, industries, academia, nongovernmental organizations, local communities, and others to assess and monitor the biodiversity in their regions.
• Neotropical Lowlands Research Program - Focuses its research on key groups of organisms in order to understand the functioning of lowland ecosystems in tropical Latin America.

Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems - Program scientists study the effects of environmental change on the ecology and evolution of land plants and animals.

Dept. of Systematic Biology - Genetics Lab - Supports studies in systematics, population genetics, and behavioral ecology.

Marine Station at Fort Pierce - Supports and conducts scholarly research in the marine sciences, including collection, documentation and preservation of south Florida 's marine biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as education, training, and public service.